Mangaluru sources have stated that the Indian Coast
Guard with assistance of the Karnataka Coastal Security Police and a local team
of swimmers on Sunday morning rescued all 27 crew members trapped in
barge IBIS. The barge was
damaged after hitting a reef near Mangaluru’s Ullal Coast on Saturday.

Meanwhile after rescuing four persons on Saturday evening, the crew of
Indian Coast Guard vesselAmartya suspended
rescue operation owing to poor light and rough sea. The coast guard resumed
operations at 5.45 a.m., and by 9 a.m., the remaining 23 members of IBIS were brought to Amartya
that was anchored 1.5 nautical miles away. Amartya then sailed to New Mangalore Port around 10.30 a.m.

It was stated that the members of the Mumbai based IBIS were assigned the task to
build a portion of the reef to strengthen the seashore under the Asian
Development Bank-funded Sustainable Coastal Protection Management and
Development Program.

When terming the operation challenging, DIG and Commander of Coast Guard
Karnataka S.S. Dasila told reporters that rescue personnel had to brave strong
winds and rough sea and following alert at 4.45 p.m. on Saturday, Coast Guard
district operational officer Praveen Kumar Jaswal said Amartya was diverted from
Surathkal for the rescue.